Index or file



Sept. 6, 1932. "W, DAY 1,876,209

INDEX 0R FILE Original Filed Nov. ll, 1924 2 Sheets-Shee l Aorney Sept.6, 1932. w. H. DAY' 1,876,209

INDEX OR FILE Original Filed Nov. l1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AfozzzveyPatented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED vls'rafi'lszs "PATENT oFFicE XVILLIAM H.DAY, OF CLINTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR TO REMINGTON RAND INC.,*F i

BUFFALO, NEW YORK l I INDEX on FILE Original application filedA November11,1924, Serial No. 749,196. 'Dividedand this application led July 20,1929. Serial No.v 379,759.

This application is a division of-applicationl Serial No. 749,196, filedNovember v11, 1924.

This invention relates to index files or similar equipment, wherein arecord carrying member is employedy generally in the form of a1 shallowdrawer or tray, capable of vbeing stored away ina device in thev form ofa cabinet, and conveniently arranged for withdrawal therefrom in orderto readily refer to the cards or sheets filed therein.

More particularly the invention relates to such an equipment using thetype of index cards that lie substantially flatwise in the drawers inoverlapped relation, whereby the margin of each is exposed to view,especially the type ofY index cards of the class shown in the FisherPatent No. 1,048,056, grantedA De# cember 24,1 1912. A

An index equipment such asl that noted above, is shown in a co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 669,525, of which this application in certainaspects is a continuation in part. This application relates, however,more specifically to an improved form of drawer or tray, adapted for usewith such an equipment, and wherein novel filing and indexing means areprovided.

In devices `of this character, it is preferable to provide vshallowsheet metal drawers or trays, having facilitiesforholding a`comparatively large 4number of index cards, in order that the size ofthe cabinet maybe held within reasonable and minimum dimensions.

The cabinets are adapted for general Vuse inv offices and elsewhere,and` are arranged in such a manner that they may be placed in any handylocation for ready reference, such as being placed upon thefloor, tableor desk, or even hung or placed beneath a table or desk. Due to thepossible use of this equipment in various locations, thedrawers or traysmust be of such construction that they will be read-- ily adapted to thelocation wherever the cabinet is placed. The facilities for holding acomparatively large number of index cards, contained in each drawer,should be of such construction and arrangement that the index cards are-held compactly and free from possible injury.

Being stored away within the cabinet, it is essential that the insigniaof some kind be provided whereby the contents of each drawer may benotedv at a glance, regardless of the location in which the cabinet isplaced. Being-shallow and usually stored ina cabinet wherein the yfrontfaces of the drawer are flush with or sunk beneath the front face of thecabinet,-a suitable handle for withdrawj ingA the same isy necessary,especially one which will notinterfere with the withdrawal y of adjacentdrawers.

One object, therefore, of this invention is to provide anindex-receiving drawer or tray of shallow form, having facilities forholding acomparatively large number of cards compactly together, withoutdanger of injury to the same due to interference of other vcards'in thesame drawer, from the drawers above or below, or from foreign matter,such as dust or finger marks due to handling.l 'Another obj ect'of thisinvention is the provision for use in such a drawer of novel means forcompactly holding a series of cards therein by the engagement thereofwith the card edges While being 'capable of retaining` a covering,preferably of a transparent nature,

over the series of cards.

Still other objects of the invention comprise the provision ofv a drawerin which index cards may be readily filed, which is constructed whollyof sheet-metal, adapted for use in restricted vertical spaces, andwhich'is inexpensivetomanufacture.

To these and other ends, my invention consistsin the novel features andcombination of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. o In theaccompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of anindex cabinet -of a type adapted toreceive the drawers of this invention;

Fig. `2 is a plan view of a drawer or tray embodying the features ofthis invention Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial front view of l the draweror tray of Fig. 2, and a front view of the handle member appliedthereto;

Fig.4 is an enlarged side view of the parts shown in Fig. 3;

Fig.- 5 is an enlarged partial plan view of l at this point. verselydisposed index card supporting strips the front end of the drawer ortray and the handle member;

Fig. 6 is a section through the handle member, on line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section through the handle member on line 7 7 of Fig. 5;Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of a drawer embodying thefeatures of this invention;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 9, and,`

Fig. 12 is a view showing a modified arrangement of the fillingfacilities in a somewhat similar drawer.

The index equipment selected to illustrate the embodiment of myinvention comprises a cabinet 10, suitably constructed to allow thestoring away of a plurality of drawers or trays 11, such as shown inFigs 2 and 12.

The drawer or tray 11, as illustrated, comprises a sheet metal structurehaving vertically extending flanged sides 12, which are integral withthe bottom portion 14, being bent up therefrom, then inwardly over thedrawer, and then returned back upon themselves outwardly and downwardlyas at 12a. Preferably, a strip of material bent in L-form incross-section, is inserted between the side portions 12 and 12a tostrengthen the same longitudinally. A drawer front plate 13 is providedfor the drawer, which is vertically disposed and extends from one drawerside portion 12 to the other, and which braces the drawer transverselyagainst distortion at the front edge thereof. This plate has one of itsedges bent under the bottom portion 14, as at 13a, where it is securedthereto by suitable means, such as by spot welding, and the other edgebent backwardly over the drawer to form a flanged top edge 13b for thedrawer.` The rear edge of the drawer bottom is bent angularly as at 14ato brace the same transversely A. plurality of suitable trans- 15 areprovided, suitably secured to the drawer bottom 14, which are adapted toslid ably retain a plurality of index cards 16, which in this instance,are of the type shown in the above mentioned Fisher patent, and arearranged in overlapped relation with a margin 50 of each exposed toview. Flange members 17 and 17 f1 are provided, which extendsubstantially from one side of the drawer to the other, and are securedtherein in position to engage the edges of thecards 16.

The Bange members 17 are of a novel form, whereby provision is made forthe protection of the cards 16, each being constructed of a strip ofmaterial, preferably sheet-metal, which is formed to provide a baseportion 40, by which the member may be secured to the bottom 14 of thedrawer by either spot-welding, as at 41, or other suitable means, avertical card edge abutment or web portion 42, a

card edge protecting flange portion 48 and a transparent sheathedge-retaining socket 44. its illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, the flangemember 17 is bent up substantially at rightangles from the horizontallydisposed base to form the abutment 42, then bent horizontally tocontinue in the same direction as the base, but away therefrom to formthe flange 43, and then returned back upon itself, forming a roundededge and the sheath socket 44. The card flange 43 and the sheath socket44 are terminated short of both of the ends of the member 17 asullicient distance to avoid the drawer side flanges 12, as shownrespectively at 46 and 47, so that the cards 16 and the sheath 48 may bereadily inserted in their proper positions. The cards 16 are engagedupon the strip 15 in this instance, by means of struck-out tongues, andhave one of their side edges located below the flange 43.0f one flangemember 17 and abutting the web portion 42 of the same, the other edgebeing substantially in abutment with the web portion 42 of an adjacentmember 17. One flange 43, therefore, acts as a retaining means to holdthe cards downwardly and flatwise against the drawer bottom, while bothwebs 42 assist the strip 15 to hold the cards against twisting or othermovement out of their proper position. The card-protecting sheath 48 ispreferably transparent and is slipped into place by inserting one edgeinto the socket 44, and the other edge beneath the flange 48 of anadjacent member 17. By the use of a flange member 17, as. illustratedand above described, a plurality of series of index cards may be filedin a drawer with the side edges of adjacent series in close proximitywithout interference therebetween, whereby considerable space is savedin the drawer and the various series are held compactly together andfree from interference by a partition between the drawers, or by theupper or lower drawer. By the use of the sheath member 48, the cards areprotected from dust and finger marks or other injury, due to handling.The edges of thc cards and accompanying sheaths immediately adjacent thefront plate are received by the flange member 17a which is a simplell-shapcd flange having its bottom leg secured to the tray bottom 14 (Fig. 7).

The drawers 11 are as shallow as is practicable, in most cases beingonly slightly yhigher than the height of the series of superimposedcards therein. In this manner a large number of drawers may be storedinto a cabinet of relatively small dimensions, thereby providing roomfor a considerable number of index cards. rlhe card supports ioy throughthe plate horizontally7 as atx23, is.

bent upwardly to form the shoulder 24 which rests against the outersurface of the plate 13. The metal is then curved outwardly anddownwardly as zit-25, to a point slightlyabove the level of the drawerbottom 14, where it is turned as at V26 and curved vupwardly .and backupon the portion to forman upper or top portion 27. The metal formingthe top portion 27, which terminates at 28, is limited in its upwardextension so that it is slightly below the level of lthe :upper edge ofthe .drawerfront plate'13. At each side of the portion 25 and integralltherewith is an ear 29 which is turned upwardly and supports and spacesthe portion 27 from' the portion 25. These ears or side portions 29 alsoact as transverse strengthening flanges to insure that the curved shape.of thev handle portion 21 is retained.

The handle member 20 whenA formed as described above, produces andvprovides Aa useful and eflicient device having a handle portion 21,-which is easily grasped :by the. index finger and thumb of the user, andwhich is limited in vertical extension both upwardly and downwardly inrespect to the levels of the top and bottom of the drawer-so that it isnot liable to be interferedwith bythe drawer above or below when thesevare withdrawn. Preferably, the handles on adjacent7 drawers are locatedthereon in staggered relation, as shown in` F ig. 1.

The bottom portion 25, top portion 27, and the side ears 29 of thehandle portion 21 form a pocket 30 therein, which has a mouth opening 31located closely adjacent the yupper edge of the front plate 13, formedbetween-the termination'28 of the portion 27 andthe front plate 13. Anindicia-bearing Vslip 32 is located within the pocket 30, and maybeobserved by the user through a suitably provided window opening 33,formed in the top front of the drawer or directly :down lupon plate,preferably in a plurality of places,

the face of thefdrawer, `which feature allows the cabinet to be locatedwith respect to the user ina variety. of positions. The handle member,therefore, aside. from its value and.

,thesame' tothe drawer there is little likelihood of its becoming looseor of bending under` normal strains.

While I have shown and described a pre-y ferred-embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that the same is not limited lthereto-in1all of .its details, but is capable of many modifications andvariations which will fall within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended'claims.

WVhat is claimed is: Y

` LiIn anyindex or file, a drawerhaving means mounted therein forsupporting index record members inl overlapped relation, and meanscomprising Va pair of members extending along the side edges of saidindex record members, one of said members having aliange overlapping aside'edge of each of the record members, and the other member abuttingthe other edge. Y

V2.111 an vindex or file, a drawer having means mounted therein forsupporting index record 'members vin, -overlapped relation, meanscomprising a pair of members ext-ending along the side edges of therecordv members, one of said members having a flange overlapping saidrecord members at one edge, the other memberiabutting the opposite edgeof the r record members and presenting a groove beyond the card-abuttingportion, said groove ,being in opposed relation ywith the overlappingportion of Ythe first-mentioned member whereby a sheet of material maybeheld therebetween over said record members.

'3. An index vor tile, a drawer having means mounted therein forsupporting-a plurality of parallel disposed series of index recordmembers in overlapped relation, and means comprising a series of flangedmembers eX- tending along between the side edges of adjacent series ofsaid record members, each of said flanged members comprising a strip ofmaterial having a rbase portion, a portion bent upwardly from said baseportion to form an abutment for the edges of the record members of twoadjacent series, and a horizontally extending: portion forming a iiangeto overlie one of said series of record-carrying members. Y

et. An index or file, a drawer having means mounted therein forsupporting a plurality of parallel disposed series of index recordmembers in overlapped relation, and means comprising aV series offlangedl members extending along between the side edges of adjacentseries of said record members, each of said flanged members comprising astrip of material having a base portion, a portion bent upwardly fromsaid base portionto form an abutment for the edges of the record membersof two adjacent series, a horizontally extending portion forming aflange to overlie one of said series of record-carrying members, and aportion turned backwardly over said horizontally extending flange toform a sheet-retaining groove.

5. In an index or file, a drawer having index card guides securedtherein, a series of imbricated index cards mounted upon each of saidguides, and a card edge retaining member, said member extending parallelwith said card guides and presenting a flange extending over the exposedportion of the side margin of each of the cards in one series of saidcards, and an abutment for the edges of the cards of the same and anadjacent seriesl of cards.

6. In an index or file, a drawer having index card guides securedtherein, a series of index cards mounted upon each of said guides, and acard edge retaining member, said member extending parallel with saidcard guides and presenting a flange extending over an edge of one ofsaid series of cards, and an abutment for the edges of the cards of thesame and an adjacent series of cards, and a flange portion for receivingan edge of a sheath member adapted to overlie said adjacent series ofcards,

7. In an index or file, a drawer having series of index cards mountedtherein, and a card edge retaining member, said member presenting aflange extending over the edges of one series of said cards, and anabutment for the edges of the cards of said series and another series,and a flange portion for receiving an edge of a sheath member.

8. In an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member presenting a flange adapted to overlie an edge of the cardsand a shoulder adapted to abut an edge of the cards, and a flangeadapted to receive an edge of a sheath member overlying the cards.

9. In an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member comprising a strip of material having a base portion, ashoulder portion, a flange portion, and a sheath retaining flangeportion, said base and first mentioned flange portions disposedsubstantially parallel to each other, and extending in oppositedirections from said shoulder portion, said sheath-retaining portionextending from said first flange portion in the same directionrelatively to said shoulder, as said base portion.

10. ln an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member comprising a strip of material having a horizontallydisposed base portion, a vertically disposed shoulder portion, ahorizontally disposed card-retaining flange and sheath socket portion.

11. In an index or file, a flange member adaptedv to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member comprising a strip of material having a longitudinallyextending base portion, having means associated therewith extendingupwardly therefrom, presenting on each side thereof an abutment and onone side a combined cardretaining flange and sheath socket.

12. ln'an index or le, a longitudinally elongated flange member adaptedt0 be secured uponan index card holder, for engagement with the cardsassociated therewith, said member comprising a strip of material havinga base portion, asubstantially vertical shoulder portion, a card edgeretaining portion and a sheath edge retaining portion, said base andcard edge retaining portions extending from said shoulder portion inopposite directions, said sheath edge retaining portion extending fromsaid card edge retaining portion back in the same direction as saidbase, each of said retaining portions terminating short of the end ofsaid strip at one end thereof'.

13. In an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member comprising a strip of material having a horizontallydisposed base portion, a shoulder portion extending upwardly therefrom,a card edge retaining flange portion extending horizontally from saidshoulder portion, and a sheath edge retaining portion extending backover said flange portion.

14. In an index or file, a longitudinally elongated flange memberadapted to be secured upon an index card holder for engagement with thecards associated therewith, said member comprising a strip of materialbent to form a horizontally disposed portion, a vertical portion,another horizontally disposed portion spaced above the plane of saidfirst-mentioned horizontally disposed portion, but extending from saidvertical portion in an opposite direction, and another horizontallydisposed portion returned back over said second-mentioned horizontallydisposed portion and spaced therefrom.

15. In an index or file, a drawer having index card guides securedtherein, series of index cards mounted upon said guides, and

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a card edge retaining member, said member extending parallel with saidCard guides and presenting a flange extending over an edge of one serieslof said cards, and an abutment for the edges of the Lcards of the sameand an adj aoent series of cards, said abutment extendina beyond saidflange at one end thereof.

16. .n an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member presenting a flange adapted to overlie an edge of the cardsand a shoulder adapted to abut an edge of the cards, said shoulderextending beyond said flange at one end thereof.

17. In an index or le, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards assooiated therewith,said member comprising a strip of material having a horizontallydisposed base portion, a shoulder portion extending upwardly therefrom,a card edge retaining flange portion extending horizontally from said'shoulder portion, and a sheath edge retaining portion extending backover said flange portion, said shoulder extending beyond said flangeportion and said sheathretaining portion.

18. In an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards assoelated therewith,said member comprising 'a strip of material having a horizontallydisposed base portion, a shoulder portion extending upwardly therefrom,a card retaining edge flange portion extending horizontally from saidshoulder portion, and a sheath edge retaining portion extending backover Said flange portion, said sheath-retaining portion stopping shortof one end of said shoulder portion.

19. In an index or file, a flange member adapted to be secured upon anindex card holder for engagement with the cards associated therewith,said member Comprising a strip of material having a horizontallydisposed base portion, a shoulder portion ex- Y tending upwardlytherefrom, a card retaining edge flange portion extending horizontallyfrom said shoulder portion, and a sheath edge retaining portionextending back over said flange portion, said sheath-retaining portionand said flange portion being substantially eoextensive and stoppingshort of said shoulder portion at one end of said flange member.

WILLIAM H. DAY.

